Swindon headteacher chosen for key school support role

The headteacher and staff at The Ridgeway School, Wroughton  have been selected for a top role supporting schools in challenging circumstances.

Steve Colledge has become one of only 76 headteachers across the country to be appointed in the latest recruitment round by the National College for Leadership of Schools and Children’s Services to the prestigious role of National Leader of Education (NLE). It also means the school is now designated a National Support School (NSS).

To mark the occasion Steve Colledge has been invited to an event at the National College’s Learning and Conference Centre in Nottingham this month for a formal induction and training for the role they will play in raising standards.

NLEs use their success and professionalism as school leaders, along with the staff in their school – designated a National Support School -  to provide additional leadership capacity in struggling schools. The deployment is tailor-made to suit the needs of each school in challenging circumstances. The type of support provided is flexible and can involve NLEs becoming acting or executive headteacher of the client school or schools. They also have responsibility for helping to grow the next generation of NLEs and National Support Schools.

The latest expansion of the scheme brings the total number available for deployment nationally to 377. The overall expansion will see the number of NLEs increase by up to 500 by 2012 leading ultimately to 300 primary and 200 secondary National Support Schools. It is estimated that up to half a million children have so far benefited from the scheme.

Steve Colledge, said:  “This recognises the outstanding performance of The Ridgeway School and the dedication of all staff to inspiring success in every student.  Having led two schools focused upon continuous improvement I look forward to contributing additional capacity where it is required. ”

Toby Salt, Deputy Chief Executive of the National College, said:  “I am so proud that outstanding school leaders like Steve Colledge are being honoured in this way. This scheme is about great headteachers and their teams helping others and making a big difference. Many of the schools in the scheme see improvements in exam results at both the support and client schools with progress achieved in excess of the improvements nationally. This is thanks to the hard work and dedication of all those involved.”

In its next NLE recruitment round the National College will be looking for headteachers exclusively from the primary sector.

www.ridgewayschool.com

www.nationalcollege.org.uk